June 18th, 1935 - June 6th, 2026
Joan (Bunny) Odette Frauenfelder (née Eckstein) born June 18th, 1935, in Milwaukee, Wisc., passed away in the early morning hours of June 6th, 2026. As her earthy body gave way her essence coalesced with the right and good currents of the universe.
Joan was brilliantly unique, infinitely open minded, fiercely independent and passionately advocated for any marginalized human being. She attended Washington High School Milw., Wisc., graduating class of 1953. Shortly after graduation she married and started her family. Architect of her meticulous home she could have given the Master of Household at Buckingham Place instruction.
After accepting a job with the Milwaukee Health Dept (MHD). Joan quickly made her role as Clinical Nursing Assistant her career path serving various health needs of the Milwaukee community. Her various roles there served many capacities including Well Baby Clinics, home health visits, public elementary through high school health nurses’ room where she provided vision and audiology screenings and counsel and assessment for any student who visited. Her role with the Milw. Health Dept. also placed her in the MHD’s S.T.I. clinic performing countless blood draws. She also spent years as a respite care worker providing caregiver relief to families of disabled children of the greater Milwaukee area. Her love of art was enhanced when she worked at Milwaukee’s Calatrava Art Museum.
Her interests were many: sewing (a precision seamstress), quilting, biking, Brewer games, baking holiday rolled oat cookies and mocha logs, and thrifting estate/yard sales. Joan could spend myriad hours hunting for treasured items. Her love for thrifting was so encompassing that she dreamed of one day opening her own thrift shop which she said would be called “Odette’s Opulent Outcasts”. Joan’s other interest was playing the slot machines. Even at the age of 85 she was known to have midnight drives to Potawatomi Casino feeding the slot machines till dawn. Her children became concerned when they repeatedly called looking for her in the pre-dawn hours. When she finally answered she would feign ignorance and tell us she was “just sleeping”. Above all, her heart’s paramount interest was spending loving, selfless moments with her children and grandchildren. How fortunate we all were to glean her profound, glorious “Joan-isms”.
Joan is survived by her Son Neal Frauenfelder, daughters, Dawn (Robert) Shecterle, Mary (José) Reyes, her sister Nancy Nelson, grandchildren Ricky, Ava; April, Reid, Paige, Claire, three great grandchildren Penington, Reggie and Lonnie; and eight nieces and nephews.
Preceded in death by her parents Joseph J. and Mildred H. Eckstein; sister Doris, brothers Charles and Kenneth. Her ex-husband, Duane Frauenfelder, predeceased her.
Joan’s wish was to not have a memorial or funeral service. A future private interment will follow at:
Arlington Cemetery
4141 S. 27th St.
Greenfield, Wi 53221
Therefore, please celebrate Joan’s life by going forth and actualizing what is right and good.

If you would like, donations may be made in Joan’s name to:
Meals on Wheels
OR
Autism Science Foundation